Heavy Air Pollution Shuts Schools, Universities In Parts Of Iran

Tehran has suffered from dangerous levels of pollution and smog since
mid-November.

Schools and universities have been shut in parts of Iran including the
capital, Tehran, due to high levels of pollution, state media report.

The decision to shut schools and universities in the capital on November 30 was
announced late on November 29 by Deputy Governor Mohammad Taghizadeh, after a
meeting of an emergency committee for air pollution.

"Due to increased air pollution, kindergartens, preschools and schools,
universities, and higher-education institutes of Tehran Province will be
closed," Taghizadeh was quoted by official government news agency IRNA as
saying.

Schools in the capital will also be closed on December 1, Taghizadeh said later.

"Having examined the index of pollutants in Tehran...it was decided for all
schools to be closed tomorrow in Tehran Province, except for the counties of
Firuzkuh, Damavand, and Pardis," he was quoted as saying.

The young and elderly and people with respiratory illnesses were warned to stay
indoors and all sports activities were suspended on November 30.

Tehran has suffered from dangerous levels of pollution and smog since
mid-November.

Schools were also closed in the northern province of Alborz and in the central
province of Esfahan, IRNA reported, citing officials.

Other areas where schools were shut included the northeastern city of Mashhad,
the northwestern city of Orumiyeh, and Qom, south of Tehran.